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Christie was returning on train to New York from D.C.

Loud cell phone talking led to complaints from riders

Washington (CNN)Chris Christie was asked to leave Amtrak's quiet car Sunday morning after passengers complained to a conductor about the New Jersey governor yelling at his security detail and into his cell phone, according to a rider.

But a woman who sat across from Christie said the incident was no big deal, and that the once the governor learned he was in the quiet car, he left quickly and courteously.

Christie, a Republican presidential candidate, was on the 9:55 a.m. train back to New Jersey from Washington, D.C., after an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Photos of Christie taken by a passenger

He walked onto the train with a McDonald's strawberry smoothie, already chewing out someone who was with him, possibly a security officer, about a mix-up in seating arrangements, according to Alexander Mann, a passenger on the same train who detailed the Christie incident to CNN in an email and in photos.

Mann wrote that just before the train departed, Christie boarded behind "two men who appeared to be Secret Service agents" -- though that's unlikely, since Christie doesn't yet have Secret Service detail; his staff said he traveled Sunday with one New Jersey state trooper -- and was "yelling at them about some sort of mixup with the seating arrangements and how they had let it happen."

Businessman Donald Trump announced June 16 at his Trump Tower in New York City that he is seeking the Republican presidential nomination. This ends more than two decades of flirting with the idea of running for the White House.

"So, ladies and gentlemen, I am officially running for president of the United States, and we are going to make our country great again," Trump told the crowd at his announcement.

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Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has made a name for himself in the Senate, solidifying his brand as a conservative firebrand willing to take on the GOP's establishment. He announced he was seeking the Republican presidential nomination in a speech on March 23.

"These are all of our stories," Cruz told the audience at Liberty University in Virginia. "These are who we are as Americans. And yet for so many Americans, the promise of America seems more and more distant."

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Ohio Gov. John Kasich joined the Republican field July 21 as he formally announced his White House bid.

"I am here to ask you for your prayers, for your support ... because I have decided to run for president of the United States," Kasich told his kickoff rally at the Ohio State University.

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Hillary Clinton launched her presidential bid on April 12 through a video message on social media. The former first lady, senator and secretary of state is considered the front-runner among possible Democratic candidates.

"Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion -- so you can do more than just get by -- you can get ahead. And stay ahead," she said in her announcement video. "Because when families are strong, America is strong. So I'm hitting the road to earn your vote, because it's your time. And I hope you'll join me on this journey."

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Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats, announced his run in an email to supporters on April 30. He has said the United States needs a "political revolution" of working-class Americans to take back control of the government from billionaires.

"This great nation and its government belong to all of the people and not to a handful of billionaires, their super PACs and their lobbyists," Sanders said at a rally in Vermont on May 26.

Christie took a seat and began making cell phone calls, despite the "quiet car" markings instructing passengers to refrain from loud conversations or phone use in that portion of the train.

Mann wrote: "The details of the conversation were unclear but it was definitely some sort of work phone call. This went on for 5-10 minutes until the conductor, prompted by passenger complaints, asked him to stop using his cell phone or leave the car. He again started yelling at his security detail and huffed off to another train car. He kept repeating 'frickin' ridiculous' and 'Seriously?! Seriously?!'"

In a message to CNN, Klabusich said she shared a four-person table on the train with Christie.

"He was courteous to me in a couple exchanges about the table - like typically happens anytime people on transit are sharing space," she wrote. "He got on the phone; honestly, one of the least intrusive phone people I've had to ignore. I'm not aware of anyone complaining."

She continued: "When the conductor came through to check tickets, he dispassionately said, 'Sir, this is the quiet car.'

Photos:Chris Christie's career in photos

Photos:Chris Christie's career in photos

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, joined by his family, announces his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on June 30 at Livingston High School in Livingston Township, New Jersey.

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Photos:Chris Christie's career in photos

Christie takes questions from Bruce Rastetter at the Iowa Ag Summit on March 7 in Des Moines, Iowa.

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Photos:Chris Christie's career in photos

Christie jokes with host Laura Ingraham as he addresses the annual Conservative Political Action Conference at National Harbor, Maryland, on February 26.

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Photos:Chris Christie's career in photos

Christie campaigns for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker during a campaign stop at the GOP field office in Hudson, Wisconsin, on September 29, 2014.

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Photos:Chris Christie's career in photos

Christie enters the Borough Hall in Fort Lee, New Jersey, on January 9, 2014, to apologize to Mayor Mark Sokolich for the George Washington Bridge lane closures -- a scandal that became known in the media as "Bridgegate."

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Photos:Chris Christie's career in photos

Christie speaks at a news conference on January 9, 2014, in Trenton, New Jersey, about his knowledge of an alleged traffic study that stopped traffic at the George Washington Bridge. Christie addressed allegations that his deputy chief of staff signaled for the New York and New Jersey Port Authority to close lanes on the George Washington Bridge to punish the Fort Lee mayor for not endorsing Christie during the election.

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Photos:Chris Christie's career in photos

Christie arrives to speak at his election night event after winning a second term as governor on November 5, 2013, in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Christie defeated his Democratic opponent, Barbara Buono, by a large margin.

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Photos:Chris Christie's career in photos

Christie talks to business owners affected by a massive fire that burned a large portion of the Seaside Park boardwalk, which had recently been rebuilt after Superstorm Sandy, on September 14, 2013, in Seaside Heights, New Jersey.

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Photos:Chris Christie's career in photos

Christie speaks to members of the Hudson County Building Trades Council after receiving their support for his re-election campaign for governor on July 1, 2013, in Jersey City, New Jersey.

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Photos:Chris Christie's career in photos

Christie greets President Barack Obama on his arrival in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on October 31, 2012, to visit areas hit by Superstorm Sandy. Christie was later criticized by some in his party for his warm welcome of Obama.

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Photos:Chris Christie's career in photos

Christie updates members of the media on damage and recovery efforts related to Superstorm Sandy on October 30, 2012, from the emergency operations center at State Police Headquarters in Ewing, New Jersey.

Christie takes the stage to deliver the keynote address at the Republican National Convention on August 28, 2012, in Tampa, Florida.

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Photos:Chris Christie's career in photos

Christie speaks as he endorses former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the Republican presidential nomination on October 11, 2011, in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

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Photos:Chris Christie's career in photos

Christie and his family lay white roses on wreckage pulled from Ground Zero during the dedication of the Empty Sky Memorial for 9/11 at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey, on September 10, 2011.

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Photos:Chris Christie's career in photos

Christie speaks at a Reform Agenda Town Hall meeting at the New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company facility on March 29, 2011, in Hammonton, New Jersey.

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Photos:Chris Christie's career in photos

Christie, his wife, Mary Pat Christie, and their children attend the third annual New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Newark, New Jersey, on May 2, 2010.

Christie and his running mate, Kim Guadagno, left, pose for photographs after making phone calls to voters at Monmouth County Republican Headquarters in Freehold, New Jersey, on November 2, 2009.

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Photos:Chris Christie's career in photos

Before getting into politics, Christie was a New Jersey attorney. Here Christie speaks with the media on May 8, 2007, outside the federal courthouse in Camden, New Jersey, after six men were arrested on charges of planning to attack the Fort Dix military base.

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Photos:Chris Christie's career in photos

Christie speaks to the media about an FBI sting with Russian Gen. Sergei Fomenko, right, of the Federal Security Service and FBI Agent Louie Allen on August 13, 2003, in Newark, New Jersey.

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"Christie looked a bit exasperated, which I just took as a frustrating logistics day. Especially since -- on a non-express train -- the first car past first class wouldn't be a quiet car. He said, 'You're kidding. This is the quiet car?' He sighed and told the person on the phone he had to go, grabbed his smoothie and muttered to his security staffer as they walked to another car."

Christie spokeswoman Sam Smith said it was a mistake: The governor hadn't meant to board the quiet car.

"On a very full train this morning, the Governor accidentally took a seat in Amtrak's notorious quiet car," she said in an emailed statement. "After breaking the cardinal rule of the quiet car, the Governor promptly left once he realized the serious nature of his mistake and enjoyed the rest of his time on the train from the cafe car. Sincere apologies to all the patrons of the quiet car that were offended."